Electric switch



July 30, 1940. H. J. HAMMERLY ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 6, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l I: lill INVENTOR J. HAMMERLY, BY CWTTORNEY HERMAN y 30, 9 0- H. J. HAMMERLY 2 09,9 8

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April s, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet v!!! i. yllllllllfillllIlflllfI/Ifflfllf IIIIIIIIIIIII/ u p I n I u n I INVENTOF HERMAN J. HAMMERLY,

7 yzr'roRmav July 30, 1940. H. J. HAMMERLY ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 6, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HERn AAN J. AMMERLY %NEY ' Patented July so, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH Connecticut Application April 6, 1936, Serial No. 72,941

8 Claims.

My invention relates to electrical switches. More particularly my invention relates to a snap action switch, preferably combined with a fuse.

One object of my invention is to construct a compact and simple switch with novel contact elements.

Another object is to increase the safety factor in switches of the fused type.

Still another object is to provide an enclosed lo fused switch of improved design.

These eiTects are accomplished by building the switch and fuse elements in a single block of insulation. and by providing a combined switch contact carrier and are breaking barrier which is it housed almost entirely within the insulation block. The movable switch element and the snap action mechanism are carried by the moving carrier in compact fashion, being-located within the carrier whenever possible.

20 Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show two forms of my invention.

Fig. 1 is a face view of an opened switch box 25 showing one form of my invention with the switch in open position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view on a larger scale showing the switch alone in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the switch substantially on line 3- 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the movable parts of the switch.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the movable switch contact piece.

'5 Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the switch and box on line 66 of Fig. 2, showing the switch in closed position and the cover of the box closed.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the switch open and the cover of the box swung back.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modification of my invention, the switch being closed.

Fig. 9 is-a side elevation of the modified form, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section on the line I0l0 of Fig. 8 showing the switch closed.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the switch open.

My switch is preferably mounted in a box or receptacle l0 provided with a cover II which is hinged as at I2 to the box. In the cover is provided a slot l3 for manipulation of the switch handle when the cover of the box is closed.

The switch mechanism proper is mounted entirely upon an insulating base block I which is held in the box by means of suitable screws l5.

The movable parts of the switch are carried by a fan shaped movable switch piece I6, preferably The movable contact in the switch consists 10 of the single switch blade 2|. In manufacture this blade is passed through a slot in the piece [6 before being bent, and after being placed in position the ends of the blade are bent to form the U-shape illustrated in Fig. 5. This secures the 15 blade loosely in place and positions the ends of the same so that they will embrace the proper stationary parts.

This switch blade is preferably beveled on its inner faces as illustrated at 22. This bevel insures proper positioning of the blade with respect to the stationary parts of the switch. A groove 23 in the base block guides the switch blade 2| in its arcuate movement and centers the legs of the contact on the carrier l6. 25

In order to obtain a snap action of the switch blade the insulating switch piece I6 is provided with a recess or cut-out 24, one side of which is cam shaped as at 25. Within this cut-out is mounted a leaf spring member 26 which has its 30 ends secured to the pivot pin l9 and a sliding pin 21. This pin 21 is mounted to slide in the vertical slot or groove 28 of the insulating base block. With the above structure, assuming the parts to be in the position of Fig. 6, the switch is in the on position. When the handle I8 is moved to the left, the switch piece [6 also moves to the left, carrying with it the switch blade 2| As this movement is accomplished, the upper end of the spring 26 and the sliding pin 21 are held 40 from transverse movement by the slot 28. Movement of the switch piece causes the pin and upper spring end to ride on the cam surface 25 and slide downwardly in the groove or slot 28. When. the sliding pin and spring have passed the peak of the cam surface, the spring will force itself into the other side of the cam surface, thus throwing the switch piece into the position shown in Fig. 7. Reverse movement of. the parts will obviously produce a snap action to close the switch.

The power line contact piece is represented as number 29 in the drawings." This L-shaped piece is suitably secured to the insulating base and extends adjacent to the movable switch piece 5 and inside of one end of the switch blade I! (see Fig. 3). Connection to the electrical line is made by. means of the binding screw 30 or other suitable means.

The circuit contact piece 3| may also be of L-shape and extends closely adjacent the opposite side of the insulating movable switch piece and inside of the other end of the movable switch blade 2|.

5 Connection to the circuit from this contact piece 3| is made through the medium of the binding screw 32 which has electrical connection with the forked conducting piece 33. This forked piece is seated in the base of a conventional screw threaded fuse socket such as 36,

which socket is adapted to contain an ordinary.

plug fuse (not shown).

In the bottom of the fuse socket is placed an' insulating piece 35 upon which is mounted the central screw 36. This screw 36, besides holding the fuse socket to the insulation block and providing the bottom contact for the fuse socket, also connects this side of the fuse socket to the circuit contact piece 3 I. When a fuse is inserted in place the electrical connections follow through the having binding screws 38 for connection with other wires in the switch box. Suitable knockouts may be provided in the bottom and sides of the switch box for introduction of the proper wires or conduits.

In operation, assuming that the proper wires are attached to binding screws 30 and 32, and the switch is closed as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, the electric current will pass through the following parts: binding screw 30, contact piece 29, switch blade 2|, contact piece 3|, screw 36, plug fuse (not shown), fuse socket 3i, forked piece 33 and binding screw 32.

The upper edge of the fan shaped piece I6 substantially closes the slot l3 in the cover of the box when the switch is in either the "on or off position.

When the switch is moved to off position the switch blade moves away from the stationary contact pieces and the fan shaped area of the piece l6 acts as a barrier betweenthe stationary contact pieces and not only tends to break possible arcs from these pieces but also prevents their contact. While the arc is being broken, it is drawn out between the insulating surfaces of the groove l1 and the carrier IS.

The movable switch piece or briding member 2| being loosely mounted in a slot in the insulating rocker or pivoted switch member I6 is free to adjust itself or float in the groove or recess I1 in the base in a direction transversely of the path of movement of the insulating rocker member so that it is free to properly align itself with the resilient tips of the stationary contact 23 and having holes for mounting the switch on a suitable support. The carrier 46 is mounted within the recess 41 and is movable by the handle 48 about the pivot pin 49. 'This' pin is mounted in a recess or groove 5|) in the back of the block.

The three switch blades 5| are-similar to the blade 2| shown in Figs. 1 through '7 and are manufactured and mounted in a similar fashion. Guiding grooves 53 position these blades 5| properly at all times.

In Figs. and 11 the outline of carrier 46 is shown in dot-dash lines, together with the outline of the cutout, cam face and leaf spring similar to cutout 26, cam face 25 and spring 26 of the single pole form. The sliding pin 57 (like the pin 21) rides in a groove 58 to produce the proper snap action.

The stationary contacts and connections of this three pole switch are similar to those of the other form shown. Contacts 59 are of L-shape, provided with binding screws 60 and suitably held in place on the base block. Contacts 6|, on the other side of the switch, are connected to binding screws 62 through fuse sockets 66 with central screws 66. A terminal plate 61 with bindingscrews 68 may be provided for a neutral line,

In Figs. 8 and 9 is illustrated a fuse mounting structure that may be used with other forms of switch. The base block 61 is provided with a slot 69. through which a connecting screw may be engaged with the contact piece 6|. In the case of the screw plug fuse socket above described, the central screw 66 of socket 63 will threadedly engage a hole in contact 6!.

If it is desired to use a cartridge fuse instead of a plug fuse, the screw 66 is removed and the plug socket is substituted by a cartridge fuse clip 10 which is held in place by a screw H which extends through slot 69 and threadedly engages a hole 12 in contact 6!. A shoulder I3 on the base properly aligns the fuse clip 70.

The other clip 16 for the cartridge fuse (not shown) is provided with a binding screw and is held to the block by a screw passing through a hole F6 in the block. In the face of the block suitable recesses 11 are provided for the ends of binding screws 62 when plug fuses are used;

recesses 18, for the ends of screws 15 when cartridge fuses are used.

It will thus be seen that the type of fuse used may be easily varied with but little trouble.

By the above structures I have provided an extremely simple and rugged type of switch. The same has a small number of moving and stationary parts. The mounting of the switch blades through the movable switch piece prevents the important parts of the switch from coming apart accidentally and at the same time provides an eificient action. Because of the simplicity of the structure the switch is economical to manufacture and presents a minimum of maintenance costs.

The mounting of the snap action spring in the space and keeps these parts insulated against accidental contact with the live switch parts. The embracing of the stationary contacts by ,w

the arms of the movable switch blade positively insures correct contact of the parts.

Although I have shown a single and a triple pole switch arrangement, it is obvious that other 'recess of the switch carrying piece conserves numbers of switch contacts and cooperating members could be mounted in the manner shown without departing from the spirit of the invention.

- piece when said carrler is moved to one position,

said carrier insulating said contacts from each other when moved to another position, and spring means for moving said switch and carrier relative to said base,.

2. In an electrical switch, a base, aplate-like switch carrier of insulating material movably mounted on said base, a U-shaped switch piece passing through said carrier and having arms exposed on the opposite sides of said carrier, stationary contact pieces supported by said base adjacent to and on opposite sides of said carrier, said stationary contactsadapted to be en-' gaged by said switch piece when said carrier is moved to one position, said carrier insulating said contacts from each other when moved to another 7 position, means for moving said switch piece and carrier relative to said base, said carrier plate having a recess therein with a cam surface, and

resilient means within. said recess, one end of said resilient means bearing against and riding on said cam surface to produce a snap movement of said carrier when said carrier is moved in either direction. I

a. m an electrical switch,-a\base, a switch carrier of insulating material of plate-like form movably mounted on said base, said plate having a recess therein with a camsurface, resilient 'nleans entirely within said recess, one end of said means bearing against and riding on said cam surface to produce a snap movement of said carrier, a switch piece mounted on said carrier, and a stationary contact piece-supported by said base adjacent to said carrier in the path of movement of said switch piece.

4. In an electrical switch, an insulating base having a groove therein, a switch carrier of insulating material of plate-like form movably mounted in said groove, said plate having a recess therein with a cam surface. resilient means mounted entirely within said recess, one end of said means bearing against and riding on said cam surface to produce a snap movement of said carrier, a switch piece mounted on said carrier within the confines of the groove in the base,

and stationary contact pieces supported by said base adjacent to and on opposite sides of said carrier in the path of movement of said switch piece.

3 5. In an electrical switch, a base, a switch carrier of insulating material of plate-like form pivotally mounted in said base, means for causing pivotal movement of said carrier in said base,

said plate having a recess therein with a cam surface having a peaked portion, a spring entirely within said recess, one endof said means bearing against and riding on said cam surface, the other end of said means being located at the carrier pivot, said spring and cam producing a snap action of said carrier when the same is moved, a switch piece mounted on saidccarrier, and a stationary contact piece supported by said base adjacent to said carrier in the path of movement of said switch piece.-

6. In an electrical switch, a base, a switch carrier of insulating material of plate-like form movably mounted on said base, said plate having a recess therein with a cam surface, resilient means entirely within said recess, one end of said means bearing against and riding on said cam surface to produce a snap movement of said carrier, a plurality of spaced switch pieces mounted I on said carrier, and pairs of stationary contact pieces supported by said base adjacent tosaid carrier in the path of movement of said switch pieces.

7. In an electric switch an insulating base having a groove, a stationary contact located at each side of said groove with at least a portion of the contact spaced apart from the adjacent wall, an insulating carrier mounted to move back and forth in said groove between said contacts, a U-shaped switch contact loosely carried by said carrier, the central part of the U-shaped switch contact extending looselythrough the carrier and the side arms or tips of the U-shaped switch contact being guided by adjacent walls of the groove in the base and spaced apart from the side walls of the carrier sufliciently to permit the tips to embrace the outer surfaces of the stationary contacts when the carrier is moved to the closed circuit position.

8. In an electric switch an insulating base having a groove, a stationary contact secured to the base on each side of said groove, an insulating rocker pivoted at the bottom of the groove and HERMAN J. HAIEMERLY. 

